Tommy Orange wins John Leonard Prize for ‘There There’

By John McMurtrie

Tommy Orange, who has earned high praise for his novel “There There,” has won the John Leonard Prize, awarded to authors for outstanding first books.

Now in its fifth year, the prize, named in honor of the late critic, is given by the National Book Critics Circle. Two other finalists for the prize — seven were nominated — are Bay Area authors: Jamel Brinkley (“A Lucky Man”) and R.O. Kwon (“The Incendiaries”).

The NBCC also named 31 finalists in six categories for books published in 2018. Check out the list at SF Chronicle.

We’re so excited to see Literary Affairs book club favorites The Mars Room, Educated, and The House of Broken Angels on the list of nominees. To see all of our book club selections, click here.